Still undefeated but with 4 draws from 6 games Australia were in danger of losing touch
with the leading pair of Saudi Arabia and Japan. As it turned out the Socceroos prevailed
on an improved but not dominating display to keep in touch for the automatic qualification
spots and this result also signaled the last for the UAE coach as he resigned after the game.
This was a World Cup Qualifying match.

Australia had to win the macth 3 times before the result stuck in
what was a disjointed start after being gifted a goalscoring opportunity early before a more
assured, if not reassuring, second half. With this result Australia is equal on points with
Saudi Arabia and Japan but with Japan a game in hand and the Saudi's a slightly better goal difference.
This was a World Cup Qualifying match.

The "Chevrolet Brasil Global Tour" is a neat way to package and corporatise
a series of Friendlies Brazil has undertaken across the globe and this is another of those. Four
days prior Brazil played out a 1-0 loss to Argentina at the same venue.
This was a Friendly match.

Australia took part in the 2017 Confederations Cup tournament
held in Russia before qualifying concluded. As regining Asian champions they took part alongside
Chile, Germany, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia and Cameroon.
This was a Confederations Cup Final match.

With a decent result, if not showing, against a young
experimental German side Australia managed to recover from a somewhat deflating
goal just before the break to end up evens and left having to make something
of the final match.
This was a Confederations Cup Final match.

Australia needed to win this match by 2 goals to advance to the
Semi-finals ahead of Chile. Though playing their best match of the tournament and threatening
to reach their target Australia ultimately feel short in what was Tim Cahill's 100th appearance
for Australia. Only Mark Schwarzer has represented his country more often.
This was a Confederations Cup Final match.

Australia, despite the win, placed 3rd in the group
with this result thanks to a 1-0 win to Saudi Arabia at home to Japan in the
other final round match. As a result the qualification path continues with another
two games against Syria, the 3rd placed side in the other group and then an
as yet unknown CONCACAF side if Syria can be defeated over two legs.
This was a World Cup Qualifying match.

Syria, whose home match advantage was not as great as it might be
given the turmoil the country is in, played well in parts but were largely dominated
by Australia earlier in the match but slowly got more involved and despite falling behind
continued to press on and got an equaliser from a penalty that probably should not have been
given but Australia should, much like in the last game against Thailand, have made that
academic. On to Sydney to decide who will progress the 4th placed team in Concacaf for the
last spot in the World Cup. Currently that's Panama, but it could still be the USA
or Honduras as well.
This was a World Cup Qualifying match.

Australia made hard work of the win, the Syrians giving it their all
which made for an at times heated clash and were it not for the evergreen Tim Cahill's
two goals Australia might have met the same fate as the USA only a few hours later.
As it was a late free kick to Syria came off the post when it could so easily have
gone in and sent Syria through on the away goals rule. Something Australia is very familiar with.
To be fair Australia also had many chances to settle the game. In the end Australia
won through to play, as it turns out, Honduras on November 6 and 14 (second leg at home)
This was a World Cup Qualifying match.

Australia, for their troubles, drew Honduras as the USA was
surprisingly overhauled to fail to qualify in a round where the bottom 3 teams beat the top 3.
The first leg was staged on what appeared to be green sand in hot and humid conditions
which the Hondurans sought to play to their advantage. As it turned out Australia had the better
of what few chances were created and the scoreless draw means Australia have to win at home
or watch the World Cup on TV.
This was a World Cup Qualifying match.

Australia made it. They needed 22 matches and a scoreless first half in this game but
eventually the returning captain brought home the goals that the country craved. The strain
of the effort dating back to just before the 2014 World Cup told on the coach though and a
few days after this match the growing speculation was ended with the announcement that Ange
Postecoglou resigned as coach.
This was a World Cup Qualifying match.